Rehabilitation after Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Last updated Thursday, February 10, 2005

Activities with the operated arm

Determining appropriate activities

Your doctor will determine which of these activites are appropriate for you at this time:

• Working on your grip by squeezing play putty, foam, or a tennis ball
• Raising your hand to your face to eat and wash
• Writing, keyboarding, sewing, answering the telephone
• Swinging the arm in a relaxed way at your side while walking

Fitness

Driving

Driving is not advised after shoulder replacement until two conditions are met:

1. it has been at least six weeks after the operation, and
2. the shoulder is comfortable enough and strong enough so that when you are standing you can raise it to the horizontal position straight out in front of you twenty times.

Using these criteria, you can avoid placing the shoulder, passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians at risk from a shoulder that cannot perform under emergency circumstances.

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